What’s going on with the Sixers?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know everything that’s been going on with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The trade deadline move by Daryl Morey and company to send embattled star Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, and Seth Curry in exchange for James Harden sent shockwaves across the NBA landscape. People immediately wondered about how this changes the pecking order for teams pushing to make the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond.
Well, we’re about to get our first clear answer as Harden is set to make his debut for the Sixers against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Harden, who hasn’t played since before the trade deadline, has always targeted his return for the second half of the season. And now with Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level, we get our first look at what the squad will look like with a lot more offensive punch and playmaking surrounding him.
What’s going on with the Timberwolves?
Don’t expect the Wolves to simply roll out the red carpet for Harden’s Sixers debut though. After all, the Timberwolves are also fighting for something, albeit on a smaller scale than what Philly’s going for.
The Timberwolves’ 119-114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies proved that even though they have moments of inconsistency and youth, they can hang with any team. D’Angelo Russell’s 37 points were the catalyst for Minnesota’s big win, pushing them into seventh place. And after a wonderful All-Star Weekend which saw Karl Anthony-Towns win the 3-Point Shootout, their confidence is definitely sky-high.
Sixers-Timberwolves matchup
It’s always an entertaining battle when these two squads tangle. Remember when Embiid and Towns got into a heated wrestling match?
It’s about to get even juicier for several reasons. The Harden debut is the major draw, but what kind of offense will the Sixers run with their new All-Star duo and will the fit be immediately smooth? Also, the Sixers’ defense will definitely be tested by Towns, Russell, and electric sophomore Anthony Edwards. The Sixers have championship aspirations but they have to get stops on the defensive end. Will Embiid and Matisse Thybulle be able to compensate for the noted iniquities of Harden on that end?
As the unofficial second half of the second begins to heat up, expect championship-caliber squads to try and separate themselves from the pack and pretenders to fade into the background. The Sixers are hoping that they are the former.
Where to watch
Catch the game live at 9:00 AM tomorrow on NBA League Pass.
